soffer



March 22, 1955 J. w. SOFFER 2,704,622

RESTRICTED-TILT DISPENSER VALVE HAVING FLANGED STEM Filed NOV. 14, 1950 Q 3 l2 8 l0 l4 FIG.4 l9 l5 INVENTOR.

JACK W. SOFFER 2,704,622 Patented M 22, 19,55

RESTRICTED-TILT DISPENSER VALVE HAVING FLANGED STEM Jack W. Soifer, St. Louis, Mo., assignor to Development Research, Inc., St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application November 14, 1950, Serial No. 195,620

4 Claims. (Cl. 222-394) This invention relates in general to valves and, more particularly, to certain new and useful improvements in dispensing valves for pressure containers such as are utilized for the dispensing of aerated or fluifed cream and which operate by a lateral rocking or tilting, such valves being of the type disclosed in,the co-pending application of Aaron S. Lapin, Serial No. 90,807, filed May 2, 1949, for Dispensing Containers.

While valves of the type shown in said application have been generally satisfactory, it has been found that under high internal pressures and unusually large lateral or tilting movements there is a likelihood of a degree of leakage between the valve stem and the sealing member surrounding it. The present invention is directed to overcoming such leakage tendency which appears under the conditions above set forth.

, It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a dispensing valve of the type adapted to tilt and open under lateral pressure which will be free from leakage regardless of the extent of tilting and the intensity or pressure within the container.

A further ob ect of the present invention is to provide an improved seal between the tubular stem of the dispensmg valve and the surrounding sealing member.

it is an additional object of the present 1nvent1on to provide means for limiting the degree of tilting to wh ch the valve stem may be subjected, and in combination with the improved seal between the tubular stem of the valve and the surrounding sealing member to avoid leakage of the container contents.

it is a still further ob ect of the present inventionto provide means for locking the valve stem and preventing inadvertent discharge or the contents of the container and to provide, upon opening such locking member, a variable or controllable degree of deflection or rocking for the valve stem member.

it is another object of the present invention to achieve the foregoing ODJCCIS simply and inexpensively without impairing the attractive appearance of the valve and contamer assembly.

with me above and other objects in view, my invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, ar-

rangement, and combination of parts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

in the accompanying drawmg Figure 1 is a perspective view of a dispensing valve together with a segment of the dispensing conta ner to which same is attached, the said valve incorporating the controllable flow means hereinafter described;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1, showing one form of restrictor member;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along line 22 of Figure 1 illustrating the valve in open position;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional v ew similar to F gure 2 showing the valve depressed axially during the insertion of gas into the container; and I Figure 5 is a sectional view of an alternate form of restrictor member adapted for use with the present invention, which alternative form is externally like that shown in Figure l.

Referring now by reference characters to the drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is utilized a container 1 of the type disclosed in the aforementioned co-pending application which is adapted to discharge its contents by gas pressure, such as whipped cream, lathered soap, and the like.

Said container 1 includes a neck portion 2 disposed snugly within which and downwardly from the upper margin thereof is a cover plate 3 integrally having an upstandmg peripheral flange 4 in tight surface-wise abutment against the inner adjacent face of the neck 2 which is outturned at its upper end for overlapping engagement with the corresponding margin of the neck 2 to form a pressure-tight joint designated 5. The cover plate 3 is centrally pierced and flanged to provide an aperture 6 circumscribed by a relatively short, upstanding rim 7. Projecting through the aperture 6 is a sealing member or grommet 8, fabricated preferably of resilient, non-reactive material, such as a synthetic rubber, and having an axial bore 9 which is counter-bored at its lower end, as at 10. The grommet 8 has an upwardly projecting sleeve portion 11 of substantially constant thickness except where distended by the annular flange 20 hereinafter referred to. At the base of sleeve portion 11, the grommet 8 is in tight engagement with the inner surface of the rim 7. The portion of the grommet 8 immediately beneath the cover plate 3 is enlarged, as at 12 for. engagement with substantially the entire under faceof the cover plate 3 to form a positive seal about the aperture 6, and peripherally tapers downwardly to provide a relatively thin, flexible sealing edge 13 about the outer margin of the enlarged section 12 and to provide at its lower end a seat 14 for the head 15 of a valve member 16. Said valve member 16 embodies a tubular stem 17 which projects upwardly through the axial bore 9 of the grommet 8 and extends beyond the sleeve portion 11 thereof, ter-' minating in a slotted discharge end 18 forming a confectioners tip. In its bottom portion, immediately superjacent the head 15, the valve 16 is provided with a plurality of radially presented orifices 19 which permit com-' munication between the bore of the stem 17 and the counter-bore 10 of the grommet 8.

In operation, the application of laterally-directed pressure upon the valve-stem 17 will cause the same to be tilted through resiliency of the grommet 8 thereby unseating the head 15 of the valve 16 to permit the contents of the container A to be discharged under the internal gas pressure into the orifices 19, thence through the valve stem 17 and out the dischargeend 18. Upon release of the applied pressure, the valve 16 will return to vertical, closed position by the elasticity of the grommet 8. It is to be particularly noted that, absent the additional structure to be described hereinafter, if the valve stem 17 is caused to be canted at a relatively large angle from. the vertical, the grommet 8 may be distorted to such an extent that the tight, seal-like engagement between the inner walls of the sleeve portion 11 of the grommet 8 and the adjacent portions of the valve stem 17 is lost. Such excessive canting of the valve stem 17 would permit leakage and partial waste of contents.

To avoid such result, the valve stem 17 is provided with an integral, external annular flange 20 of a diameter slightly less than that of the cover plateaperture 6 and so located as to be's'paced in the assembled valve outwardly from the upper edge of the cover plate rim 7 a distance approximately equal to the thickness of the grommet sleeve 11 which envelopes it. Outward of the sleeve 11 the valve stem 17 is provided with external screw threads 21 adapted for co-operative engagement with the axially bored, internally threaded upper portion 22 of a thimbleshaped restrictor member 23 whose annular skirt portion 24 is superjacent the cover plate 3. A pair of wings 25 are formed on the outer side of the restrictor member 23 for ready manipulation thereof.

After the container has been filled and gassed, the restrictor member 23 is screwed downwardly so that the lower margin of its skirt portion 24 abuttingly engagesthe outer surface of the cover plate 3, as shown in Figure 2. In this position the valve head 15 is pulled tightly and sealed against the seat 14, while the valve stem 17' is held upright and its rocking or tilting made impossible. In this manner the chance of its inadvertent deflection and the consequent discharge of the contents of the container.

tents, the restrictor member 23 is screwed upward one or two turns, raising its skirt portion 24 from the cover plate 3 such amount as may be desired, thus permitting a selective degree of tilting of the valve member 16 as shown in Figure 3. 'It is apparent that the extent by which the restrictor member 23 is so raised will limit theangle of tilt; hence, the speed ofdischarge, which is a function of the angle of tilt as well as of the internal pressure, may be regulated. As has been indicated, limiting the angle of tilt avoids undue distortion of the grommet 8 whose seal is necessary to avoid leakage.

Attention is now directed to the several interrelationships between the valve'stem'flange 20, the grommet sleeve 11, and the upturned rim 7 of the cover plate 3. First to be noted is the locking which occurs on assembly, with the grommet 8 in place on the valve stem 17. These parts are pressed outwardly through the aperture 6 defined by the rim 7, the bend radius at the lower (or inner) side of which permits such a flowing of the resilient material of the sleeve 11 that the aperture 6 will pass over the sleeve-encompassed flange 20 with relatively little pressure and without damaging said sleeve 11. Once in place, however, the assembly is in effect locked, for the upturned edge of the rim 7, created by a piercing and forming operation, is not adapted to permit such material flow and instead traps the sleeve material under flange 20.

The next effect to be noted is that such sleeve material serves effectively as a spring means operating between the flange 20 and the rim 7 to restore the valve stem 17 from tilted to closed position on release of laterally-applied pressure. This spring effect is of suflicient force to render unnecessary the use of external coil springs.

Important for effecting the purposes of the invention is the next mentioned effect: by using flange 20 to distend the sleeve 11 just above the point of its passage through the upper edge of rim 7 the tendency of the sleeve 11 to gap away from the stem 17 under tilting deflection is minimized. In co-operation with the restrictor member 23, so adjusted as to limit the extent by which the stem 17 may be deflected consistent with a convenient discharge rate, the problem of leakage of the container contents between the stem 17 and the sleeve 11 has been successfully overcome.

Attendant to the use of suchvalve containers is the insertion of gas into the containers when they are packed. A convenient system for inserting the gas is first to put into the container the food to be dispensed, then to seal the valve mechanism thereon, and, finally, to depress the valve axially and while so doing insert the gas. In order to utilize such a gassing system it has heretofore been thought necessary that the valve assembly permit a substantial axial deflection. From the drawings of the present structure, it is apparent that but little axial deflection is possible.

It has been found that such axial deflection of the valve stem 17 is actually unnecessary and certainly no more is required than for an'almost imperceptible degree of the valve head 15 from the grommet seat 14. Referring to Figure 4, the assembly is shown with the nipple n of a gas-inserting apparatus (not otherwise illustrated) inserted into the valve stem 17 and pressing it inwardly but slightly, such inward movement being resisted by the sleeve 11 pressed between the flange 20 and the rim 7. The smallness of this axial movement has proved in use not to prevent the container 1 from being readily gassed. This is explicable in the light of the counter-boring of the grommet 8 as at 10, which gives to its lower endan increased flexibility in bending. Considering the difference in gas pressures between that employed in the gassing machine and that in the container 1 when charged, it is believed that during the gassing operation there is a bending distortion of the counter-bored portion 10 of the grommet 8 approximately as illustrated in Figure 4, which distortion permits the gas to enter the container without any appreciable axial lowering of the valve head 15.

Figure 5 shows in cross section a simplified'form of thermoplastic thimble-shaped restrictor member 23' having an annular skirt 24', wings 25, and a centrally flanged aperture 26 of a diameter slightly greater than the outer diameter'of the external screw threads 21-on the valve stem 17. Projecting inwardly within said aperture 26 are two tooth-like members 27, 27', spaced on opposite sides thereof and vertically displaced from each other a distance equal to half the pitch of the screw threads 21. These tooth-like members 27, 27', serve as partial threads to engage and co-operate with the screw threads 21 but are more readily molded than the internal threads of the upper portion 22 of the first restrictor member 23, illustrated in Figures 2 to 4, inclusive. It has been found that the use of merely two of such tooth-like members 27, 27', in conjunction with the relatively close fitting bores of aperture 26 suflices operatively; and the advantages inherent in manufacturing such restrictor member 23 will be apparent to persons skilled in the art.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the controllable flow dispensing valve may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of the present invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A leak-resisting tilt-opening dispensing valve, comprising in combination a container wall having an aperture, a resilient sealing grommet having an annular body portion presented against the inner side of said wall and an outwardly protruding sleeve portion extending through and outwardly of said aperture, the inner wall of said sleeve portion being substantially cylindrical, and a tiltopening valve member mounted in said resilient grommet and having a tubular stem, the outer wall of said stem having a substantially cylindrical portion sealedly grasped within the sleeve portion of the grommet, the said cylindrical outer wall portion of said stem having an annular flange protruding against the inner wall of said sleeve portion at a level outward of the outer side of said aperture, whereby the said sleeve portion is elastically dis tended and caused to grip the valve member more tightly.

2. A leak-resisting tilt-opening dispensing valve, comprising in combination a-container wall having a rimmed aperture, a resilient sealing grommet having an annular body portion presented against the inner side of said Wall and an outwardly protruding sleeve portion extending through and outwardly of said rimmed aperture, the inner wall of said sleeve portion being substantially cylindrical, and a tilt-opening valve member mounted in said resilient grommet and having a tubular stem, the outer wall of said stem having a substantially cylindrical portion sealedly grasped within the sleeve portion of the grommet, the said cylindrical outer wall portion of said stem having an annular flange protruding against the inner wall of said sleeveportion at a level outward of and adjacent the outer side of said rimmed aperture, whereby, on tilting of the valve stem, the side of the said sleeve portion toward which the valve stem is tilted is resiliently compressed between the said flange and the outer side of the rimmed aperture.

3. A leak-resisting tilt-opening dispensing valve for gaspressure dispensers, comprising in combination a container wall having an aperture, a resilient sealing grommet having an annular body portion including a sealing face presented against the inner side of said wall, further having an outwardly protruding integral sleeve portion extending through and outwardly of said aperture, the inner wall of said sleeve portion being substantially cylindrical, a tilt-opening valve member mounted in said resilient grommet and having a tubular stem, the outer wall of said stem having a substantially cylindrical portion sealedly grasped within the sleeve portion of the grommet, the stem portion outward of said cylindrical portion being threaded, together with a tilt-restrictor member screw-mounted on the threaded portion of said stem and having a lower edge adapted to abut said container wall, thereby to prevent tilting of the stem, and on being raised from said container wall by screwing said restrictor member outward, to serve as a tilt stop restricting the range of permissible tilt of said stern, thereby to avoid gapping distortion of the integral grommet sleeve from the stem.

4. A leak-resisting tilt-opening dispensing valve as defined in claim 1, the stem portion outward of said cylindrical portion being threaded, together with a tilt-restrictor member screw-mounted on.the threaded portion of said stern and having a lower edge adapted to abut said container wall, thereby to prevent tilting of the stem, and on being raised from said container wall by screwing said restrictor member outward, to serve asa tilt stop restricting the range of permissible tilt of said stem, thereby to avo gapping distortion of the grommet sleeve from the stem.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 116,433 Glover June 27, 1871 r 6 Wagner Nov. 13, 1894 Lee June 7, 1932 Card July 26, 1932 Howe Nov. 10, 1942 Geiss et al Nov. 8, 1949 Greenwood May 2, 1950 Dey Aug. 28, 1951 Michel Sept. 30, 1952 

